PAS’s Saari tells all on backing Wan Azizah as Selangor MB
(The Malaysian Insider) – PAS Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib has defended his decision to sign a letter supporting Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the state menteri besar (MB), saying that it had been a necessary move to save the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.
He told The Malaysian Insider that he was willing to meet PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to explain his actions.
“I made that decision on August 14 for the sake of PR and did not intend to violate any party directive because PAS had not made any decision yet that time,” he said in an interview three hours before meeting the PAS disciplinary committee.
“It was done because, to me, the situation was very critical that time. I acted based on information I received as a PAS assemblyman in Selangor that Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (former MB) had announced he had the majority support.
“I am ready to apologise to the PAS president for not informing him before making my decision and taking such action,” Saari told The Malaysian Insider.
He and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin had signed a statutory declaration (SD) supporting Dr Wan Azizah as the MB candidate on August 14.
His actions courted criticism from PAS leaders, some of whom have labelled him a traitor, hypocrite, damned and party frog.
The Selangor PAS Shura Council approved a motion for disciplinary action to be taken against him, while Terengganu PAS Commissioner Satiful Bahri Mamat has called for his sacking.
On Monday, Saari and Hasnul were summoned by PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali to explain their actions to him and deputy secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan at the party’s headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut.
Saari said he had never discussed with Hasnul their decision to support Dr Wan Azizah.
“I only found out that Hasnul was doing the same when we met at the lawyer’s office to sign the SD.
“What was on my mind when taking that action was to save the PR government after Tan Sri Khalid claimed he had the majority support and refused to resign after his party ordered him to do so.
“Quick action was critical given the power grab that happened to the Perak PR government in the past.
“I only wanted to deny Khalid’s statement, although technically the support had shifted to another assemblyperson that time, which was Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah,” said Saari, who was accompanied by his wife, Aliza Jaafar.
